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The holiday season is about getting together with family and friends, but that's not possible for many service members. So, Budweiser wants to help them get a taste of home.

by Byard Duncan and Ryan Gabrielson

U.S. consumers are falling behind on their auto loans at historic rates. Experts blame inflation, soaring interest rates and high retail car prices. Our journalists want to learn more about this industry and understand the causes and consequences of the surge in delinquencies.

Many struggling car owners have “subprime” loans, in which people with poor credit scores agree to pay higher-than-normal interest rates to qualify. Lenders say the arrangement is meant to protect them in case the borrower can’t pay.

For investors, subprime loans can also represent an opportunity: High interest rates on the consumers’ end can yield great returns when loans are bundled together and sold as securities on Wall Street.

In recent years, regulators have sued lenders, accusing them of issuing loans they knew consumers would fail to pay back. State attorneys general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have also called out lenders, saying they are inflating the prices of cars and failing to clearly explain how much interest is due over the life of loans.

We think there are lots of stories to tell about this industry. To do the best possible journalism, we need to hear from people who know it well. Do you work for a subprime lender — in customer service, collections, loan funding, training or risk management? Are you paying off a subprime car loan? Are you a lawyer dealing with these issues in court? A regulator? An investor? Please use the form below to get in touch with us. We look forward to speaking with you.

The 14,000-member Missouri-Kansas Laborers’ District Council has endorsed the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, who is running against two-term incumbent Bush in the 2024 Democratic primary.

Laumeier Sculpture Park’s 2023 Visiting Artists in Residence are Pittsburgh-based artists Lenka Clayton and Phillip Andrew Lewis. This collaborative duo utilizes innovative approaches to conceptualism and minimalism to realize their […]

The post A Number of Tragedies appeared first on Explore St. Louis.

It’s one of St. Louis’ most popular holiday traditions. Trans-Siberian orchestra will perform at Enterprise Center this Sunday night, December 17.

St. Louis County Police are asking for your help in locating a missing woman.

Krispy Kreme wants to give you a dozen yums and laughs at the same time. The chain is offering donuts inspired by the Christmas comedy 'Elf.'

Travel center and gas station 'Buc-ee's' opened Monday morning in Springfield, Missouri. It's the first in the state.

A man charged in a murder that shook a quiet community is due in court later Monday for a preliminary hearing.

A large house fire broke out on Peck Street near Fairgrounds Park in north St. Louis

A car crashed into a home on Biddle Street in downtown St. Louis.

You can have a holly, jolly and high Christmas with CODES' (11420 Concord Village Avenue) new St. Louis inspired, cannabis-infused gummy. 

The air smells of weed, and a soft haze of smoke blankets the room. People sit at tables chatting, laughing and puffing as they smoke, roll joints and grind their weed.

In August, Missouri followed the lead of 48 other states and finally banned texting while driving.  Three months later, a new study shows that the state's new hands-free driving law is already making a measurable difference. The study is based on data from Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), which gathers information from smartphones, dashcams and other devices to analyze driver behavior. It found a 2 percent reduction in phone use by Missouri drivers in the month after the law took effect — and, three months later, that's grown to a 4 percent drop.

These spirits are perfect for welcoming Santa, ringing in the New Year, or having a quaff on New Year's Day.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade believes abortion can win on the ballot in Missouri. And Planned Parenthood, which announced its endorsement of the Springfield Democrat’s campaign for governor on Monday, believes Quade can win, too. Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes is endorsing Quade, who announced a campaign for governor in July. In a state where […]

The post Planned Parenthood backs Crystal Quade with abortion a focus of Missouri governor race appeared first on Missouri Independent.

As the year draws to a close and a new legislative session dawns, what presents do you hope Santa will leave under the Christmas tree at the Missouri Capitol? Each of us can help Santa out as he is making his list and checking it twice. What do you hope legislators will find when they […]

The post What Christmas presents does the Missouri legislature need this season? appeared first on Missouri Independent.